Just a reminder that tomorrow, Wednesday, December 20, is an early dismissal day for all schools. Schools will then be closed for Winter Break from Thursday, December 21, 2023 through Monday, January 1, 2024. Schools re-open on Tuesday, January 2, 2024 – we’ll see you then! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS
What young child doesn’t like stories about animals and farms? It was a treat last week when the Dorchester County Farm Bureau visited Ms. Mo Brinsfield’s PreK-3 class at Hurlock Elementary and presented each child with their own “book pillow” – a soft, snuggly pillow with a pocket for a favorite book, all handmade with love! Bureau President Ms. Valerie Brinsfield and Bureau member Ms. Ashley Brown talked to the students about farming and animals, as well as presenting the school library with books. Thank you for sharing with our littlest learners! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS
Santa took a break from his hard work at the North Pole to visit another DCPS school yesterday! This time he stopped by Warwick Elementary to have breakfast with the Huskies, future Huskies and their families. The super kitchen staff, who are so good that they must be at the very top of Santa’s ‘Nice’ list, made sure that everyone enjoyed pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausages, juice, or coffee, and a yummy pancake-topping bar. Rumor has it that Mr. McDonald (Elf Name: Boo-Yah) was auditioning for a full-time North Pole gig! Thank you to Cambridge Starbucks for their support of this event! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS
Another round of big thank you’s to the Cambridge Lions Club, this time for a generous donation of goods and money to top up the food pantry at Cambridge-South Dorchester High School! The pantry is a resource for students and is run by C-SD Social Worker Mrs. Moment and Community Liaison Tina Morris, shown here accepting the donation from Mr. Gene Williams of the Lions Club. #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS
They may be small gifts but are given with BIG love! Ye Not-So-Olde Holiday Shoppes opened for a limited time this week at Hurlock Elementary, Maple Elementary, and North Dorchester Middle School to allow students to get in a bit of present shopping before the Winter Break. The only currency accepted is points they have earned at school during the Fall through good effort, behavior, and attendance. Kiddos loved picking out something special for loved ones, friends, and sometimes even teachers from the merchandise, much of it new and gently used donations. Thank you to those who donated items, volunteered as gift wrappers, and otherwise helped our youngsters be part of the joy of giving! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS
The Schools Report Card, released by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) yesterday, shows Dorchester County Public Schools is rebounding from the effects of the pandemic. District improvement was noted in 10 out of 13 areas scored by MSDE:
Elementary Academic Achievement
Elementary Academic Progress
Elementary School Quality and Student Success
Middle School Academic Achievement
Middle School Academic Progress
High School Academic Achievement
High School Graduation Rate
High School Progress in Achieving English Language Proficiency
Readiness for Post-Secondary Success
High School School Quality and Student Success
Ten out of 11 schools retained their previous star rating with three schools less than one percentage point from gaining another star: Mace’s Lane Middle School at .4 of a point, Sandy Hill Elementary at .5 of a point, and North Dorchester Middle at .7 of a point. Cambridge-South Dorchester High was 2.7 percentage points short of becoming a three-star school and Hurlock Elementary was 2.5 percentage points away from its fourth star. Notable gains were achieved by Hurlock Elementary School with an increase of 11.31 points, and Sandy Hill Elementary School with an increase of 10.22 points, both out of a possible 100 in the overall scoring criteria.
“The improvements noted, along with so many schools coming close to earning another star, make us optimistic that we’re heading in the right direction,” said Superintendent of Schools Dave Bromwell. “However, our academic achievement is still below the state level, and it’s important that we continue our efforts to improve instruction and learning, as well as work with families to end chronic absenteeism.”
Report cards for all Maryland schools and districts are available at https://reportcard.msde.maryland.gov/, along with resources to help understand and analyze them. The tools include a user guide and a one-page summary of calculations for elementary, middle, and high schools.
There wasn’t a red suit or white beard between them, but Pat Papineau, General Manager of Hertrich Chevrolet GMC of Easton, and David Sullivan, Marketing Director for Hertrich, played Santa Claus yesterday afternoon by delivering a big check to teacher Jill Creighton! Ms. Creighton, Technology teacher at Hurlock Elementary School, was a winner in Hertrich’s Cash for Class, their annual cash giveaway in which winning teachers’ special projects are funded. The $1000 from Hertrich, which was a surprise to Ms. Creighton and all the Hurlock students, will go towards a visit from a video game truck later in the school year. Way to go, Ms. Creighton, and thank you to our friends at Hertrich Family of Automobile Dealerships for always supporting teachers and schools! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS
Wheels 4 Work is an initiative started by C-SD Career Coach Sandy Shaw to match students who have jobs, internships, apprenticeships, etc. but no transportation with community organizations and individuals with bikes to donate. Here are just two of the generous groups who have answered the call: Hurlock Lions Club members Buddy Parker and Jim Murray with C-SD Community Liaison Tina Morris, Sandy Shaw, and Principal Jerome Stover; and Gene Williams from the Cambridge Lions Club with Principal Stover. Also pictured is C-SD student Re’al Camper, a bike recipient, who plans to use the new wheels to get to and from his job at Snappers Waterfront Café. Thank you all! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS
Happy National App Day! Yep, it’s really a thing, and we’re glad too because that gives us another excuse to let you know about the new DCPS app. As staff members are being trained, schools will be transitioning to using the DCPS app for communications and notifications. Don’t be left out – download it today! iPhone users, download at https://apple.co/3rH4Rgr; Android users, download at https://bit.ly/3LIXLP9. #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS
Hurlock Elementary turned into “Christmastown” on Saturday, thanks to the efforts of their supportive parent organization! Families were invited in for waffles and do-it-yourself hot chocolate (with lots of whipped cream and sprinkles!), a visit with Santa or, if preferred, an opportunity to write a letter and mail it (rumor is correspondents may well get a reply if they left a return address), stories with Mrs. Claus, fun craft activities, and the gift of a book or two (or more!) from our friends at Harvesting Hope. Thanks to those who put on a great event for Mighty Eagle families! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS
There’s a lot of demand on Santa’s time in December, but as the children of Dorchester County Public Schools are among his very favorites, he usually finds it in his heart to make time for them! On Friday evening he was at Sandy Hill Elementary School for the Christmas Fair, where he not only heard many requests for presents, but was also treated to hot chocolate and cookies, holiday songs by the children’s chorus, and although there is no photographic evidence, he probably visited the Book Fair because everyone knows that books make the BEST gifts! Moms and Dads were able to visit sessions of Parent University while children created holiday crafts - something for everyone to end the school week! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS
Forget what you think Santa’s elves look like – in reality, they look like these gentlemen. Players and coaches from the C-SD Viking football team went shopping at Walmart to help ensure all Dorchester County’s children have gifts for Christmas, and there wasn’t a pointy ear among them! Jason Warfield of the Dorchester Santa Toy Drive has already picked up the gifts from C-SD as he prepares to help pack Santa’s sleigh for Christmas Eve. Thanks, guys, for your generosity! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS
We are grateful to local professionals who gave their time and expertise yesterday ensuring C-SD students the experience of a job interview during ‘mock interview’ sessions at the school. The event was organized by the Maryland Business Round Table and C-SD Career Coach Sandy Shaw to give students their first taste of how to get into the working world. Thank you to Paul Dendorfer (Blue Ruin), Brandon Hesson (City of Cambridge), Sierra Jackson (Dorchester Chamber of Commerce), Danielle Johnson (Johnson’s Cleaning Service), Matt Leonard (CWDI), Lynn Sorrells (Harvesting Hope), Wilma Yeatman (Hyatt), and especially Bill Christopher, President/CEO of the Dorchester Chamber of Commerce, who always works closely with Dorchester County Public Schools in our efforts to ensure our young people are “college and career ready”! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS
This is a reminder that tomorrow, Friday, December 8, 2023, is an early dismissal day for all students! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS
Principal Gaven Parker of Choptank Elementary School yesterday became the first recipient of Dorchester County Public Schools’ newly launched Administrator of the Month award! To mark his recognition, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Jymil Thompson presented Mr. Parker with a compass inscribed “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” (John Maxwell). Hummingbirds, your leader is one to be proud of! Congratulations, Mr. Parker! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS
The forecast today: bright and sunny 3rd graders increasing their knowledge of science through practical application! Vienna Elementary’s 3rd graders, along with teacher Ms. Katie Holbrook, took a trip to Salisbury last week to add to what they are learning in the classroom in their Weather and Climate unit. They visited Salisbury University’s science department to see and use tools that measure weather and climate data and then to WBOC where they spoke to a meteorologist, toured the studio, and watched a live broadcast of the weather. The long term forecast? Children excited about learning! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS
Introducing our student artists whose creations were chosen as the designs for the Superintendent’s holiday cards! Recognized last night at the Board of Education meeting were Scarlett Stevens, 4th grade, South Dorchester School, art teacher Ms. Jennifer Parrigin; Savannah Weber, 10th grade, C-SD, art teachers Ms. Andrea Milito and Ms. Bethany Earing; Irene Garcia Aceytuno, 8th grade, Mace’s Lane Middle School, art teacher Ms. Elizabeth Wilford; and Haven Falduto, Kindergarten, Vienna Elementary, art teacher Renee LeMire. Each is holding their winning holiday work – congratulations! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS
At last night’s Board of Education meeting, the Board officers for 2024 were elected. The new President of the Board is Mr. Mike Diaz (District 1). Vice-President for the coming year is Dr. Susan Morgan (District 3). Congratulations! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS
They may have been last in the line-up in Saturday’s Cambridge Christmas Parade, but they were FIRST in the eyes of the judges! Congratulations to North Dorchester High School for winning 1st place among high school bands! North Dorchester Middle School won 2nd place among middle school bands, plus the Best Band Front award. Mace’s Lane Middle School Tigernettes were the winners for Best School Sponsored Club. We also salute the Choptank Hummingbirds Dance Team, C-SD’s Performing Arts Club, and the staff and students who created DCTC’s amazing float for their hard work and community spirit ,and thank the DCPS staff for making it possible for our youngsters to be part of a Cambridge tradition! Here are just a few looks at DCPS participants (and, yes, it really was that foggy!) #AllHandsOnDeck
Last week was a normal week in our schools . . . except for a visit from an alien! Meet Plory, an alien character in iReady, the online platform used by students to apply and practice math concepts. Plory visited selected classrooms at South Dorchester School, Choptank Elementary, and Vienna Elementary to celebrate their students’ amount of time spent and number of lessons passed so far this year on iReady. Students in grades K-5 keep weekly iReady logs, recording their time working on the platform because more practice means better success and growth between each assessment. The children were excited to show Plory their logs!
Parents, ask your student about their weekly iReady log; you may be able to locate it in their school folder along with their step logs for reading. Thirty to 49 minutes of practice on iReady per week and one to two lessons passed is the current target. However, the more time spent, the more likely kiddos are to reach and surpass their personalized targets!
Did you know your child can practice math skills using iReady at home? To access iReady on any device, go to www.clever.com, sign in using the child’s DCPS email and password, and choose iReady. It’s that easy! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS
